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This article appeared in the Australian media on 11 Dec 06. Rumour has it the A-20 is involved.
Walrus
11 Dec 06
GOLD Coast tourism is set to soar with the launch of an aviation theme park featuring a dozen priceless planes, vintage World War II hangars and an international air show.
The 'moving museum' at the Beaudesert property of Biggera Waters businessman Steve Searle is expected to attract up to 80,000 people despite opening on only four weekends each year.
Mr Searle said he hoped to have the park open by June, His top secret centrepiece plane, the last relic of its kind in the world and a former flying fancy of legendary aviator Howard Hughes, is due to arrive by April.
Mr Searle, the managing director of Swagman motor homes, said unlike other aviation museums with only static displays, visitors to his free park at Wirraway Station would be treated to free flights and some stomach-churning mid-air manoeuvres.
"This all started when I flew some of my planes, the Avengers, earlier this year at Coolangatta and the airport was inundated with calls from people wanting to know more," he said.
"Originally, I was going to put all my old planes together in a private collection at Beaudesert, but once I realised how many people were interested, I decided to make it a free public park.
"Everyone seems to have an interest.
"Either their father or grandfather or their uncle flew in World War II, and it is something people all over the world will love.
"This will be one of the best collections of vintage aircraft in Australia, if not the world.
"Not only will people be able to touch and feel the planes, they will also be able to watch them in action."
Mr Searle said his collection was literally priceless, with some of his planes the last remaining models in the world.
He said the planes would be housed in World War II hangars salvaged from Eagle Farm.
He said his property also included remnants from Camp Tabragalba where the Z-force commando unit was trained during World War II.
"This will be a living testament to our role in the Pacific war," he said.
"Every plane has a special relevance and when we get them in the air it will be the first time many of them have been airborne since the war."
Mr Searle said plans for his aviation park would soon go before the Beaudesert Shire Council an he expected as many as 15,000 to 20,000 people to turn up at each open weekend.
While some infrastructure was still to be completed at his property, including road upgrades, the Beaudesert location meant thousands of tourists could easily get there from the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
He plans to host an international air show on the property by 2010.
"The air show would be similar to the one held in Avalon, Victoria every second year," he said.
"It will be a big date for our tourism calendar ...
"This will put southeast Queensland on the aviation map."
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I was hoping it would stay in the states and someone put her back into military configuration. 
